Circuit-controlling system.



J. H. HALL.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIGN FILED DEC. 22, 1910.

1,053,495 Patented Feb. 18,1913.

4v SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R w 2g a Q m 3 a (q i 9 LL.

WTDIESSES SWENTOR ,9 M yin 1 I J. H. HALL. SIREUIT CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 22, 1910.

1,053,495, Patented Feb; 18, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG. 2

WITNESSES INVENTDR J. H. HALL.

GIRGUIT CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG.Z2, 1910.

1,053,495, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES IIVENTOR J. H. HALL.

GIRGUIT CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED D3022, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITIESSES W U L Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

UNITED STATEBPENT OFFICE.

JAY H. HALL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, .ASSIGNO R TO 'THE ELECTRIC CONTROLLER AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OHIO.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed December 22, 1910. Serial 110. 598,798.

My invention relates to circuit controlling systems, particularly that kind in which magnetically operated switches are used to vary the current in the system. It is used particularly in connection with motor con- 1 trol systems in which magnetically-operated switches are used as resistance cutting-out switches during the acceleration of the motor.

The objects of my invention are to control the automatic progression of a series of,

resistance switches hy shunting the operat-' ing windings of these switches when, during the acceleration of the motor, the motor current rises above a safe value, and, by means of these shunts in connection with a throttle, to prevent each switch from closing until the motor current is reduced to a safe value.

Another object of my invention is tocut down the current in the operating windings of the switches after they have operated, and

'so reduce the heating of these windings.

"A further object is to secure by the use of one pair of resistances the automatic progression of the switches under the control of a throttle, as well as to prevent the main switch or reversing switches from reclosing after an overload or failureof current, or in the event that any of the resistance switches remain closed by accident while the master switch is in a running position.

Referringto the accompanying drawings, the four figures show diagrams of four out of the many species in which my invention.

may be embodied. I

Referring first to Figure 1, the switch P is closed when it is desired to start the motor, having the armature A and the series field F. A circuit is established from the positive wire 7) through the actuating winding 1 or the main switch 1 and the switch P to the negative wire 92. The-current in the winding 1 closes the switch 1, thereby completing the motor circuit as follows: from the positive wire 72 through the switch 1, the resistance sections R, R and R, the armature A, and the field F to the negative wire n, a pal-tot the motor current passing through the adustable resistance R and the winding h of the throttle H, these being in parallel with an adjusted portion of the resistance R If the motor current is above a predetermined value, the current in the winding h will close the contacts h, k of the throttle H. The throttle closes practically simultaneously with the closure of the switch 1, a circuit ten being established from the positive wre ;0 through the switch 1, and the resist-' ance R, from which one branch leads through the resistance 2 and the actuating winding of the resistance switch 2 to the wire K, a second branch leads through the resistance R the resistance 3" and the actuating winding of the resistance switch 3 to the wire K, and a third branch leads through the resistances R and R the'resistance 4, and the actuating winding of the resistance switch 4 to the wire K, whence the circuit from the three parallel branches extends through the switch P to the negative wire a. Each of the resistances 2*, 3, and 4 has one terminal connected to the fixed contact of the switch with which it is associated. The voltage across the resistance 2 and the winding 2 is that of the line minus the drop due to the motor current flowing through resistance R". The voltage across resistance 3 and winding 3 is equal to the line voltage less the drop in voltage through the resistances R and R and the voltage across resistance 4 and winding 4 is that of the line minus the drop in voltage in the resistances R, R and B. As long as the motor cur" rent. is strong enough to cause the throttle H to close its contacts h h", the wire K is connected to the wire L to which are connected three parallel wires as follows: the wire 1 leading through the resistance 2 to a point between the winding 2 and the reamount of currentflowing through any a winding is never great enough to close its switch when the throttle has closed its contacts, but will be large enough to hold the said switch closed after it has closed, so that there is no danger of a switch opening merely because the parallel circuit through the throttle H is closed. As soon as the current of the motor falls to the predetermined ances R and R which can not afi'ect the currentthrough the winding 2. The a and b resistances are so proportioned that, when the throttle opens, the switch 2 only will close, the voltage across the windings of the switbhes 3 and 4 being insuflicient to close them. 'Upon the closure of the switch- 2, the section R of resistances is short-circuited and the motor current is increased, and, if this increased current is sufiicient to again raise the throttle, the switches 3 and 4 will be prevented from closing as in the case of the switch 2 until the throttle again opens, which will occur when the motor current decreases to a predetermined value. At this point the current through the winding 3 will he sufficient'to close the switch 3 since the resistance R has been short-circuitedv and the only drop in voltage caused by the motor current is that produced in the resistance R The switch 4 is still prevented from closing since the dro of voltage across its winding is effected by the motor current in the resistances R and R The switch 3, therefore, closes, short-circuiting resistance R which again increases the motor current, and if this increase is sufiicient, the throttle H will again close its cont-actsand prevent the switch 4 from closing until the motor current is again. reduced to the predetermined value. At this point the throttle will again open and allow switch 4 to close, as the only drop in voltage is caused by the resistance R. To stop the motor the switch P is opened, which deenergizes all the switch windings and causes them to open their switches. Lhave shown at 2 an auxiliary contact on the switch 2, which, while the switch 2 is open, shunts the winding 3 by means of the resistance 3, and prevents the winding 3 from closing the switch 3 until after the switch 2 has closed. This device may be put upon each of the switches if so desired, but is not necessary for the successful operation of the system.

series with the motor current which flows from the preceding switch. The general type of switch used is that described in Canfields applications, Serial Number 583,000 filed September 21, 1910, and Serial Num-.

her 604,331, filed January 23, 1911, and in Eastwoods Patent, No. 1,040,292, granted October 8, 1912. In these applications and in this patent, particularly in Fig. 2, the.

construction of the switch is such that, when the current through the winding is above a predetermined limit, each switch will remain in its normal position; and when the current in this winding is reduced to a predetermined value, each switch will operate and open its contacts.

The connection to each of the b resistances is taken through the contacts of each switch which is energized by the preceding switch.

The operation is as follows: By. the closure of the switch P, a circuit is closed through. the operating winding of the switch 1 which causes this switch to close. The closure of the switch 1 establishes the motor circuit through the resistance R, the armature A, and the field F, which causes the vmotor to run at its slowest speed. In this circuit is connected the winding 2 of the relay 2. Upon the closure of the switch 1 a circuit is simultaneously established through all of the a resistances in parallel, each circuit through such. resistances being established through the actuating or 0 winding on each of the switches, but in parallel with the b resistancein each'case As long as the relay 2 remains in its normal or closed position, the switch 2 cannot operate. If, upon the closure of the switch 1, the motor current is so large that it causes the relay 2 to remain in its original position, the switch 2 will remain open until the motor current is reduced to a predetermined value, at which this relay will operate and open its contacts, whereupon the shunt resistance 2 is removed from the winding 2 and the switch. 2 willioperate. The switch 2 in closing connects the resistance R in parallel'with the resistance R, thereby increasing the motor current, and-since this cur- .rent which passes through the switch 2 passes also through the winding 3 and the relay 3, this relay will be energized. If the current thus established is above the value at which the relay will operate, it Will remain in its original position, causing the shunt resistance 3 to remain connected in parallel with the winding 3, the parallel circuits being in series with the resistance 3, and the switch 3 will remain open. Upon themotor current being reduced in the winding 3 to the point at which the relay will operate and open its contacts, the switch 3 will operate and connect the resistance R in parallel with the resistances R and R This will cause the motor current to again increase its speed and the winding 4 of the relay 4 will be energized. As before, as long as the relay remains in its original position due to too large a motor current flowing through the winding 4, the switch 4 will remain open. hen the motor current is again reduced to the point at which the relay 4 will operate, its contacts are opened and the shunt resistance 4 is disconnected and the switch 4 will be allowed to operate. Upon the closureof the switch 4, all of the starting resistance will be short-circuited and the motor will be connected directly across the line and will operate at its normal speed. When the switch .4 is closed, no current will .fiow through the windings 2, 3, and 4 of the relays which will, therefore, assume their original positions and close their contacts, whereupon the b resistances are connected in shunt with their respective switch windings, thus reducing the current through the windings to a point which will still maintain the switches in theinclosed positions, and will materially diminish the amount of heating in the windings. To stop the motor the switch P is opened so as to cause all the switches 1, 2, 3, and 4 to open their contacts and disconnect the motor from the source of supply.

In Fig. 3 I show a system, securing the progressive operation of the switches by means of auxiliary contact-s on each switch, which contacts are used in connection with a single pair of a and b resistances and the throttle H. It will be noticed that the lower terminals of all of the switch windings 2, 3, 4 are connected together and to the stationary contact of the switch 2. This has the effect of reducing the voltage on the winding 2 by the amount of drop in voltage in the resistance R caused by the motor cur.- rent therein at the time the switch 1 closes. This causes the switch 2 to be delayed sufliciently to allow the throttle H to close its contacts upon the establishing of the motor circuit in case the current exceeds a certain value.

The operation of the system shown on Fig. 3 is as follows: Upon the closure of the switch P a circuit is established through the winding 1' and the resistance a, which causes the switch 1 to close and establish the motor circuit through all the starting resistenergized, because it is shunted by the resistance 6 through the contacts of the throttle H. The circuit at that time is as follows: from the positive through the switch 1, the resistance R, the stationary contact-of the switch 2, the switch winding 2, the auxiliary I contacts 1 where it is joined by the parallel circuit from the positive through the resistance b, the contacts k and h of the throttle H and the wire 10 to the point 0 where these two circuits unite and proceed to the point q where they unite with the circuit through the I winding 1 and then proceed through theresistance a to the negative. The reduced current through the switch winding 1 is not su'ificient to cause this switch to open, but the reduced current through the winding 2 prevents the switch 2 from closing until the motor cur-rent falls to the predetermined v lue at which the throttle H will open it contacts. This disconnects the circuit through the resistance 1) and allows the winding 2 to close its switch 2. The motor current is immediately increased by the short-circuiting of the resistance R, and the throttle H closes its contacts again, and in a similar manner prevents; the closure ofthe switch 3 by connecting the resistance 6 in shuiit with the three windings 1, 2, and 3.

Reduced current through the switch windings 1 and 2 does not open these switches but prevents the switch 3 from closing until the motor current again decreases, allowing the throttle H to open its contacts. The switch 3 then closes, and short-circuiting the section R of the starting resistance, again increases the motor current whereupon the throttle H again proceeds to check the operation of the switch 4 until the motor current has again fallen to a point where the throttle H will open its cont-acts and the shunt connection through the resistance 6. Upon the closure of the switch 4, all the starting resistance is cut out and the motor operates at its normal speed. The throttlewinding at the same time is short-circuited, causing the throttle to open its contacts which would leave the resistance I) out of circuit, if I had not provided the auxiliary contacts 4 on the switch 4 which, upon the closure of the switch 4, connect the shunt circuitthrough the resistance 1) to the wire 10 thereby shunting all the windings 1, 2, 3, and 4, andreducing the current in them not to a value which will cause the switches to open, butwhich will materially reduce the heating of their windings.

In Fig. 4 the function of the resistances a and b is three-fold. At one time they act to lockthe reversing switches 5 and 6 open to prevent their closure in case any of the resistance switches 1, 2, 3, and 4 is closed, and thereby insure a restarting of the motor only when all of the starting resistance is in circuit therewith As soon as one of the reversing switches has operated the function of the resistances a and b is, as described under Fig. 3, to regulate the closing of the resistance switches under the control of the throttle H. A third function they perform is to prevent the closing of the reversing switches so long as the master controller handle remains in the full running position on the occasion of a failure of voltage or in the event of an overload causing the overload relay/K to open its contacts i I will now describe the operation ofthe controller as shown in Fig. 4. Assuming that the motor is at rest and the master controller handle is moved so that it connects the segments m and m a circuit is established from the positive through the, resistance a, the wires 11 and 12, the contact is" of the overload device K, the wires 13 and 14, the winding 6 of the reversing switch 6, the

--wire 15, the segment m the brush m and the segment m, to the negative. This causes the reversing switch 6 to close. Upon movement of lthe master controller to the :full running position so that the contact m is also connected to the negative contact m, a circuit is also established through the operating winding 1 of the switch 1 from the positive through the resistance a, the wires 11 and 16, the operating winding 1 of the switch 1 ,-the wire 7, the contacts m and m, and the brush m to the negative on the contact an; The switch 1 then closes its contacts and amotor circuit'is established from the positive through the contacts 6, the motor armature A from right to left, the contacts 6 the field F, the winding of the overload relay K, the starting resistance sections R R R, the contacts of the switch 1, and the winding of throttle H to the negative main. The motor should start and run at its slowest speed. When the switches 6 and 1 operate, they close their auxiliary contacts 6 and IF" respectively. As soon as the V -1, however, does not open since it still rece1ves current through the resistance a and motor circuit is established, if it is above the limit at which the throttle H is set to operate, the throttle causes its contacts h and b to be closed. The switch 2 is prevented from closing because its winding 2, which is partially energized by current in the circuit from the positive main through the resistance a, the wire 22, the contact'sfi the wire 23, the contacts 1 the wire 24, the

winding 2, the wires 25 and 29, the resistance section B, wire '21, switch 1 and the windingof the throttle H to the negative main, is shunted by the circuit from a point between the resistancen and the wire 22 through the resistance 6, the wire 8, the

. contacts h and if of the throttle H, the

wires 9, 10, and 21, the main contacts of the switch 1, and the winding of the throttle H to the negative main. This shunt circuit will prevent the switch 2 from closing, but as soon as the current in the motor circurrent is above the predetermined limit at which the throttle is set to operate, it will close its contacts and reconnect the resistance I) to the negative main, and thus prevent the switch 3 from closing until the current again decreases to the point at which the throttle opens its contacts. When the switch 3 closes, it short-circuits the section B of the starting resistance. In a like manner the switch 4: will close under the control of the throttle, at which time all of the starting resistance will be'sho-rt-circuited. and the motor will operate at its normal speed. Each of the switches 2, 3, and 4 are relayed through the auxiliary contacts of the preceding switch, which causes them to operate in a predetermined sequence, but their operation is alwaysunder the control of the throttle, since the current through each winding, whenever the throttle cont-acts.

are closed, has a value too small to operate the switch, but after the switch has oper- 9 heating; In the event of an overload which causes the overload relay K to open its contacts, the connection is opened to the lower terminal of the reversing switch windings causing the reversing switch in use to open and cut off the motor circuit. The switch the contact m of the master controller, and the-resistance b is connected to the negative main through the wire 26, the auxiliary contacts 6 of the switch 6, the wire 27, the auxiliary contacts 5 of the switch 5, and the wires 28, 10 and 21 to the negative through thecontacts of the switch 1. The reversing switches therefore remain open as long as the master controller handle remains in full running position, and they cannot be closed until the handle is moved off of the contact m thereby opening the switch 1, and the shunt through the resistance b. Similarly, on the occasion of a failure of voltage when the master controller handle is in full running position all'of the switches will become deenergized and open their contacts; but upon a return of voltage to theline, such as upon the closing of the circuit breakers in the power house, the windings 6 and 1 will become energized simultaneously. The vwinding 1 can be made to take enough current to produce so large a current through the resistance a that the switch winding 6 will not become sufli ciently energized to close the switch; or the switch 1 may be designed, since it is'lighter, to close more quickly than the switch 6, and thereby reconnect the resistance b to the negative main through the path just described, that is, the wire 26, the contacts 6 the wire 27, the contacts 5 and the wires 28, 10, and 21 to the negative main through the contacts of the switch 1. It is readily seen that if, when the master controller handle is moved to the ofi position, any one of the resistance switches 1, 2, 3, and 4 should remain closed for any reason, such as the sticking of its contacts due to too great a current, the resistance 1) will be connected to the negative main,through the path just described, and either reversing switch will be prevented from closing when the master controller handle is again moved to a running position.

I have described the operation of the controller shown in Fig. 4 when the reversing switch 6 is closed by movement of the'master controller handle so as to connect the segments m, m m, and it will be readily understood that the operation would be the same when the handle is moved to the opposite side to connect the segments m1, m m except that the'reversing switch 5 will be closed instead of the switch 6 and the motor will be connected with its armature reversed and will operate in the reversed direction.

I do not limit my invention to the few forms which I have shown, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the spirit of my invention maytbe applied to many other forms of control systems.

In the claims I use the term main switch to indicate the reversing switches when a reversing motor is to becontrolled and to indicate a main circuit closing switch when a non-reversing motor is to be controlled.

I claim- 1. In a current varying controller,'a circuit, a series of magnetically controlled switches to control the circuit, means to cause the switches to close in a predetermined sequence, a winding for each of the switches, open shunting means around the windings of the switches, and means con-' trolled by the current in the circuit when above a predetermined value to close the shunting means.

2. In a circuit controller, a circuit, a resistance therein, a magnetically-controlled switch arranged when closed to connect -a circuit in parallel with the resistance, a winding for operating the switch, a shunt around the winding of the switch, and

means controlled bythe current in the first circuit when above a predetermined value to close the shunt.

. 3. In a circuit controller, a circuit, a series of resistances therein, a series of mag netical-ly-controlled switches adapted to close in a predetermined sequence and govern the amount of resistance in the circuit, ,awinding for each of the switches, shunting means around the windings of the switches, a pair of contacts in the shunt- I circuit when above a predetermined value to close the shunting means.

5. In a circuit controller, a circuit, a

magnetically controlled switch, a resistancein series with the winding thereof, a shunting means around the winding of the switch, and means controlled by an excessive current in the circuit above a predetermined value for closing the shunting means.

6. In a circuit controller, a circuit, a series of switches for the circuit adapted to close'in a predetermined sequence, an operatring winding for each of the switches, means retarding the. sequential closure of the switches, conslsting of switching mocha nisin connecting a shunt around each energized winding when the current in the c1r-' cuit is above a predetermined value.

7. In a circuit controller, a circuit, a series of switches for the circuit adapted to close in a predetermined sequence, each having an operating winding, resistance for the winding, and means shunting the windin s which are energized when the current in t e circuit is above a predetermined value.

8. In a circuit controller,,a circuit, a resistance in the circuit, a series of magnetically-operated switches, means for causing the switches to automatically remove the resistance step by step from the circuit, and a shunt around the windings of the switches, said shunt includingcontacts closed by the final switch.

9. In a circuit controller, a circuit, a series of resistances therein, a series of magnetically-controlled switches adapted to close in a predetermined sequence'and control the amount of resistance in the circuit,

' shunting means for the switches, said shuntmagnetically operated main switch and re-.

sistance-controlling switches for the circuit, a resistance adapted to be connected in series with the operating windings of said switch, a second resistance, means for'ccn- ,necting't-he second resistance in shunt with the main switch winding when said main switch is open and any of theresistance switches is closed, and means for connecting the said second resistance in shunt with the resistance switch windings when the current in the said circuit is above apredetermined value, and when the said main switch is closed.

11. In a circuit control system, acircult, a magnetically operated main switch and resistance controlling" switches for the circuit,

a pair ofresistances, means for associatingsaid resistances "with the winding of the main switch to prevent its ciosure, if any of the resistance controlling switches is closed, and means for/ associatingsaid resistances with the windings of the resistance controlling switches to cause each to close only when the current in the said circuit is below a predetermined-rains.

12, in a control system, a circuit, a. magnetically-operated nrain switch and resistance-controlling switches for the circuit, a master switch therefor, a pair of resistances, means for associating said resistances with the windings of the resistance-controlling switches to prevent their closure when the current inthe said circuit is above a predetermined value, and means for associating the resistanceswith the winding of the main switch to prevent its closure when any of the resistan(re-controlling switches is closed.

13. In a circuitcontrol system, a ma netically-operated main switch, 'rheostatm resistance, magnetically-operated switchesto control the said resistance, a master switch therefor, a pair of resistances, means for associating the pa r of resistances with the windlngs of the resistance-controlling switches to prevent their closure .when the I current in the said circuit is above a predetermlned value, means for associating the pair of resistances with the winding of the main switch to prevent its closure when any of the resistance-controlling switches is closed, an overload device which causes the main switch to open when the current t-hroughthe said circuit becomes too large, and for shunting the winding of the main switch when the master switch is in a runclosed, an overload device for causing the main switch to open when the current in the said circuit becomes too large, and means for causing one of the resistance controlling.

switches to remain closed when the master sw tchiis in a running position;

Signed at Cleveland, @hie, this l -7th day of December, A. D. 1910.

JAY H. HALL.

'itnesses R. H. BENNETT, H. M. DIEMER. 

